Should you try a sound bath? I did — here's what I learned

Lately, I’ve noticed sound baths popping up more frequently, both as standalone events, and as part of wellness retreats. 

As increasing numbers of people are trying sound baths and feeling the benefits, I was curious to find out more and experience it for myself.

The first thing to know about a sound bath, is that it has nothing to do with water. Instead, participants are bathed in a variety of sounds.

Cork-based yoga teacher and sound practitioner, Mary Kelly, explains: “It’s a holistic form of therapy where you’re playing different instruments to allow sounds and vibrations to wash over everyone’s body. 

"The vibrations and frequencies are believed to be able to help calm the mind, the body, and create a very meditative state, and then, in turn, help with physical and emotional wellbeing.”

Mary has been teaching yoga for more than 10 years, and decided to train in sound therapy a couple of years ago. She holds sound baths in Douglas and other locations around Cork. 

Although this is a recent addition to Mary’s work, she has already gathered an impressive collection of instruments: “I have an addiction to buying sound instruments. I’ve actually banned myself from buying anything at the moment because it’s ridiculous.”

Mary’s range of instruments includes crystal bowls, two gongs, an Indian instrument called a shruti box, drums, shakers, and Tibetan singing bowls.

Although she has a wide variety of instruments, Mary says this isn’t essential for sound practitioners.

“You don’t need to have that many instruments to hold a sound bath. You could literally just do a sound bath with crystal bowls,” she says.

During a typical session, Mary welcomes everyone into the space, and gives a short introduction so people know what to expect. 

She begins with a meditation, and then people usually lie down during the sound bath.

“You can use plenty of props and everything to allow yourself to be comfortable,” says Mary.

“Normally it could be anything from 45 minutes to an hour.”

At the end of the session, Mary gives participants some information to support them after the sound bath: 

“I’ll give them a debrief of a few things that might be able to support them over the next few days, while they’re still processing everything, like meditation, getting out in nature, and drinking plenty of water.”

One of the things Mary values about this practice is its accessibility.

“Absolutely everyone and anyone can come and do a sound bath, and I think that’s the beauty of it,” she says.

“You don’t have to do anything but lie down. Whereas it’s a bit different if you’re doing a yoga retreat, or a meditation class, or a breath work class, where it’s more active.”

Curious to experience a sound bath for myself, I visit Heart Space Yoga Studio in Midleton, where owner Shama Marcella Vilas Boas offers sound healing sessions. Shama is from Brazil and has been living in East Cork for 11 years.

“Spirituality has been always part of my life since I was very, very young,” she says.

Shama became interested in sound therapy when she did her Kundalini yoga teacher training, and has been facilitating sound bath sessions since 2017. She remembers trying a sound bath for the first time.

“I completely fell in love when they started playing the gongs. I started feeling all that vibration coming through my body like tingling in every cell of my body. I had such a deep experience,” she says.

When I arrive at the studio, Shama has a variety of instruments already set up, and mats laid out with bolsters, cushions, and blankets. 

I feel some nervous excitement at the thought of trying something new, and Shama soon puts me at ease. A short meditation at the beginning of the session helps me to relax. After I lie down and get comfortable, I close my eyes and listen.

Shama blends a variety of sounds together, from loud, reverberating gongs, to soft, tinkling chimes. I really feel immersed in it, as though a wave of sound is washing over me.

I don’t just hear the sounds, I feel them in my body. Some of the sounds make me feel awake and energised, while others make me feel much more relaxed and calm.

During the session, the sounds transport me to different natural environments. The low, deep sound of the gongs remind me of wild, rugged landscapes, while the gentle chimes remind me of light rain.

Afterwards, Shama explains that certain instruments and sounds are connected to different elements. “You have lovely sounds that represent the fire, the water element, the air element,” she says. 

“Then we have very earthy elements that I add into it.”

Clients have told Shama that sound baths have boosted their wellbeing in a variety of ways.

“I have people that say, ‘Oh, I had a really good sleep after the sound bath’,” she says. “I’ve had people saying that they were very stressed and tense, and they felt completely relaxed afterwards.”

Occasionally, people might find that sound experiences can bring up more challenging emotions. Shama leaves time for sharing and questions at the end of a session, and her door is always open.

“I do a little check in to see how everyone’s feeling, and they can always contact me after the session to ask me questions,” she says.

After experiencing it, I’m curious about why sound has such a powerful effect on us. Shama believes we connect with sound because it is a form of energy, just like us.

“Sound is energy. We are energy. It speaks to every cell of our body. It transports us. It has the capability to uplift us,” she says.

Shama believes that sound has the ability to transform our experience.

“When you are watching a horror movie, if you mute it, there’s no effect. But if you unmute and listen to the background music behind the movie, you start getting palpitations and wondering what’s going to happen. 

"The sound brings your body into that state of fight or flight,” she explains. “But when you listen to relaxing sounds or music, it brings you into a state of wellbeing.”

Sound practitioners have different approaches, and no two sound baths are the same. 

There are many styles of sound baths, and the instruments all have their own frequencies and people respond to them differently. 

If you try a sound bath and it doesn’t work for you, Shama’s advice is to find another one.

“It’s different for everyone. It’s really about trying and seeing what suits you,” she says.

“Every sound bath, even if you come here 1,000 times, is always going to be different.”

Having tried it, I can understand why people choose sound baths to relax. In a busy world, practices that help us to slow down and take care of ourselves are essential.

“We need to find time for ourselves, to nurture ourselves, to get to that place where we can totally relax,” says Shama. “Because we live such busy lives, finding things like this that can help us to reset is so important.”

• Find Mary Kelly at @marykellyyoga_cork and Shama at @yogahealingwithshama on Instagram.